Background:Optimal pain treatment with minimal side effects is essential for early mobility and recovery in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We investigated the effect of pregabalin as an adjuvant for postoperative analgesia provided by opioid-based patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) in such patients.Materials and Methods:Forty patients undergoing unilateral primary TKA were randomly assigned to two equal groups, to receive either placebo or pregabalin 75 mg twice a day. The drug was administered orally starting before surgery and was continued for 2 days after surgery. Anesthetic technique was standardized. Postoperatively, static and dynamic pain was assessed by verbal rating score. Mean morphine consumption, PCEA usage, rescue analgesic requirement, and overall patient satisfaction were also assessed. Treatment emergent adverse drug reactions were recorded.Results:Mean morphine consumption was significantly reduced by pregabalin. Postoperative pain (both static and dynamic) and PCEA consumption too was significantly reduced in the pregabalin group during the first 48 h after surgery. This group needed fewer rescue analgesics and recorded higher overall patient satisfaction. Pregabalin-treated patients had fewer opioid-related adverse reactions like nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Dizziness was noted in two of the patients receiving pregabalin. There was no statically significant difference in the incidence of sedation in the two groups.Conclusions:Oral pregabalin 75 mg started preoperatively is a useful adjunct to epidural analgesia following TKA. It reduces opioid consumption, improves postoperative analgesia, and yields higher patient satisfaction levels.

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Ketamine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist inhibits central sensitization due to peripheral nociception thus potentiating the analgesic effect of morphine. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of adding small-dose ketamine in a multimodal regimen of postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). One hundred patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II, undergoing major upper abdominal surgery were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I received PCEA device containing bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.0625% and morphine sulphate (preservative free) 0.05mg/ml. Group II received PCEA device containing bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.0625%, morphine sulphate (preservative free) 0.05 mg/ml and ketamine hydrochloride (preservative free) 0.2 mg/ml. The mean morphine consumption in group I after 1stand 2ndpostoperative day was 8.38±2.85 and 7.64±1.95 mg, respectively, compared to 6.81±1.35 and 6.25±1.22 mg (P<0.05) in group II. Although group II consumed significantly less morphine, pain relief at rest and at movement after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, postoperatively was significantly better in group II (P<0.05) than in group I. These findings suggest that adding small-dose ketamine to a multimodal PCEA regimen provides better postoperative analgesia and reduces morphine consumption.

Background and Aims:Acute postoperative pain is still a neglected and unresolved issue in day to day practice. Acute pain services were conceived three decades ago to form a dedicated team to monitor pain assessment and treatment as per laid down pain protocols and guidelines. The concept of acute pain service (APS) is slowly evolving in India.Material and Methods:This nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the status of postoperative pain, the prevalent treatment practices, and the prevalence of acute pain services in India. An electronic communication was sent to 4000 Indian Society of Anesthesiologists life members.Results:We received only 146 responses mainly from faculties/consultants from few corporate hospitals or medical colleges. About 68 APSs were functioning, however, 20 APS do not have any training programs and 34 have no written protocols. Anesthesiologists were involved in postoperative pain management only when epidural analgesia was employed.Conclusion:This survey found that majority of anesthesiologists agree to establish an APS, however administrative issues seem to be a major barrier.

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